Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crashes off of James Island, Wash.

SEATTLE – Multiple U.S. Coast Guard units and local response agencies are responding to a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that crashed in the waters near James Island, Wash.
The helicopter, and its 4-person crew, were departing U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., and were en route to Sitka, Alaska.

The Coast Guard lost contact with the helicopter at 9:32 a.m. Two members of the crew were recovered by a good Samaritan and transferred them to Emergency Medical Services. The status of the two remaining crewmembers is unknown.

The search for the remaining crewmembers is being conducted by two Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, two Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews, and three Coast Guard Station Quillayute, Wash., response boat crews. Dive teams from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the National Parks Service are en route. Quileute tribal response teams are providing additional assistance.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a flight restriction in the area near the crash to allow response crews to search without distractions.